swANTciNl INDIAN TRIBKS OF THK LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALI.KV 235 



Supposing them to have hccn originally sinooro in entorin<i^ upon 

 the conspiracy, as the writer believes to have been the case, they no 

 sooner found themselves disappointed in their expectations of sharing 

 in the j)hnider to the extent they desired than they bethought them- 

 selves of another means of gratifying their wishes. If they should 

 now form an alliance with the French and fall upon the Natchez un- 

 expectedly, before the latter were aware of their intentions, they fig- 

 ured that they stood an excellent chance of oljtaining considerable 

 plunder which they could either retain or allow the French to redeem 

 at fancy rates. The success with which this altruistic policy was 

 carried out will be seen below. But to return to l^errier. 



Fortunately (says Charlevoix), two of the conipiiny's vessels arrived at New 

 Orleans in the midst of all this, and he did not wish to defer any longer his 

 march against the enemy, convinced that he could not too soon involve the 

 ('lu»('taw, recall the smaller tril>es to our interest, or at least overawe them 

 and reassure the settlers. Yet he felt that he ran some risk by beginning the 

 war with such slender forces. * * * 



As on the plan adopted by the general, the most urgent point was to make 

 sure of the Choctaw and other nations nearest to the fort of Mobile, he made 

 known the first tidings of the Natchez disaster as soon as he received them, to 

 M. Diron. who commanded at that post, and by a second letter, which was 

 handed to that officer on the 16th of December, he directed him to sound the 

 Choctaw, to see whether he could depend upon them. The difficulty was to 

 find a man willing to run the risk of putting himself at tlie mercy of these 

 savages, whose disposition was then doubtful enough, and to whom we could 

 as yet make only promises. M. le Sueur," who liad come when quite young 

 from his native Canada to Louisiana, and had grown up among these tribes, 

 counted enough on the friendship which all the Indians, and these esi)ecially, 

 had ever shown liim to oft'er to go with them. His offer was accepted, and 

 he set out from Fort Mobile on the 19th. Witli great toil he visited all the 

 villages; he was well received everywhere, and had no great difliculty in form- 

 ing the cctrps of 7<X) wai-riors of whom I have spoken, and whom he led straight 

 against tlie Natchez. 



On his side, Perrier sent up to the Tonilcas two of the company's vessels. He 

 sent overland warning to all the posts, as far as the Illinois, of what had hap- 

 pened and wliat he intended to do. He dug a ditch around New Orleans; he 

 placed barracks at its four angles; he organized militia companies for the de- 

 fense of the city, and as there was more fear for the settlements and conces- 

 sions tlian for the capital, he threw up intrenchments everywhere, and erected 

 forts in the most exposed points; he finally prepared to go and take command 

 of his little army which wis assembling in the bay of the Tonikas. But it was 

 represented to him that his presence was absolutely required at New Orleans; 

 that we were not yet perfectly sure of the Choctaws, and that there was even a 

 fear that the negroes, if these Indians declared against us, would join them in 

 the hope of escai>ing from slavery, as some had done at Natchez. He accord- 

 ingly judged it best to confide the expedition to the Chevalier de Loubois, 

 Major of New Oi-leans, whose valor and experience he knew. 



The first effect of his preparations was to res-tore to our side the small Missis- 

 sippi tribes, who had abandoned it, as M. le Sueur regained those around Mobile. 

 We were sure of the affection and fidelity of the Illinois, Arkansas, Offogoulas, 



o Dumout calls him, orroncously, tbe Sieur de Lery. 



